High-voltage AC subsea cables will export power from one of the UK´s largest offshore wind farms to the mainland grid

Zurich, Switzerland, March 7, 2012 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won an order worth around $15 million from E.ON UK, to supply the power export cables for the Humber Gateway offshore wind farm.

ABB will design and supply 2x14 kilometer (km) circuits of 132 kilovolts (kV) three-core AC submarine cable, with integrated fiber optics, to connect Humber Gateway, one of the UK’s largest offshore wind farms, to the mainland grid. Delivery of the cable is scheduled for 2013.

When completed, in 2015, Humber Gateway will consist of a 73 wind turbine array that will generate up to 219 MW of electricity, enough to power up to 170,000 homes. The wind farm will be located 8 km off the East Yorkshire coast, just north of the mouth of the river Humber.

“This subsea cable will provide a reliable and efficient link between offshore wind farms and the mainland grid enabling a clean energy supply,” said Martin Gross, head of ABB's Grid System business within the company’s Power Systems division. “Offshore wind power, as a fast growing source of large-scale renewable energy is making an increasing contribution towards lowering the environmental impact of electricity generation.”

ABB is one of the world’s leading high-voltage cable manufacturers, with extensive knowledge and experience across a range of applications including offshore wind farm connections, oil and gas platform power links as well as underground and subsea interconnectors.

ABB recently announced investments of $90 million and $400 million in the US and Sweden to increase production capacity of land and subsea cables, respectively.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 135,000 people.